Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp has said that he would love to return to Arsenal and become a coach one day, while saying that Mesut Özil could be the piece that makes the puzzle whole.
The former Dutch international spent 11 years with the gunners before he hung up his boots in 2006, but maintains that the club will always hold a special place for him in his heart.
Bergkamp however is still involved in football working as an assistant coach at Ajax in Amsterdam, but says he would love to return to return to London one day and perhaps work with his former teammates Thierry Henry or Patrick Vieira.
When speaking to the Daily Telegraph the Dutchman said: “At Arsenal it was a good click. I always enjoyed it. I never had a bad day there. It is always on my mind. It is part of my ambition to come back at some stage.”
“I can’t really plan ahead. I know I will be here [at Ajax] for at least another three or five years and then I don’t know. I don’t see myself being at Ajax for the rest of my coaching career. I don’t see myself as a manager.
“I see myself as being part of the coaching staff. I really enjoy that role, especially the individual training with the strikers.
“I’ve spoken to or have heard about others [former Arsenal colleagues] who would also love to come back.
“Steve Bould is there now which is excellent. I’ve spoken to Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry would love to come back to Arsenal one day. Tony [Adams] is a big option as well.”
Since Bergkamp left the Gunners have failed to win any silverware, but have gotten off to a good start this season, and since they signed German international Mesut Özil from Real Madrid have looked a more complete team.
Fans are comparing Özil to Bergkamp and while the former Arsenal player is a huge fan of the young German he feels that every player is unique.
“I don’t like comparing. We’re all unique. But I do understand the similarities people see and I believe he can be very important to the team,” said Bergkamp.
“It is still early days. He is a tremendous player with a lot of effective skills like controlling the ball, making creative passes and assists, taking the right position in the field every time. And he’s extremely experienced.
“Putting all that together I think you’ve got a player who can be the missing link in the Arsenal team, a player who will make a striker score goals, who will link up in Arsenal’s position-game and who will score goals as well.
“Özil knows exactly how to control the ball in what kind of space to give himself time. That’s the difference between the players and great players. With his intelligence and his touch and his skills, he is trying to do something right with every ball.
“With all the respect to the other Arsenal players, I think he is the one who can make a difference. The other players are good in midfield. But you need someone of a high level who can be good in all areas of the pitch.”
The Dutchman has also said that he can see Arsenal looking to acquire a striker during the January transfer window, and that his long held faith in Arsene Wenger will bring the Gunners a trophy or two.
When speaking about Wenger, Bergkamp said: “He wants to win trophies of course. It’s in his nature. There are probably more reasons why Arsenal hasn’t been successful over the last few years than we know of.
“For a lot of years Arsenal has been a healthy club with a fantastic big stadium, and good football. But now we all feel that it’s time that we leave that story behind us.
“You know, paying for the stadium, playing good football, bringing up a few good players. Now you feel ‘OK, now it’s time to get going, to really make an effort and win a trophy’.
“At some point the club was like: ‘Let’s get Champions League again for next year, and we’ll get the money in again and build up and hopefully win a trophy’.
“But that didn’t happen so now there is more pressure than ever. Can Arsenal go all the way and win that trophy? The signs are good.
“I still feel up front there should be a few more goals. Maybe in the winter transfer window they might look at that. But I think there is a chance to get to a higher level with the team.”
